‘Holy crap’: Aus Open star forgets the rules, celebrates early... and cops brutal ‘choke’ celly after loss

Safe to say Sebastian Ofner won’t be forgetting the rules of tennis tiebreaks any time soon.

The former world No.37 suffered a brutal exit from Australian Open qualifying when he celebrated early in a match tiebreak, thinking he had won, but then collapsed to be knocked out of the tournament.

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After splitting the opening two sets 4-6 6-4 against America’s Nishesh Basavareddy, a 6-6 third set sent the players into a 10-point match tiebreak.

But Ofner believed it was a normal seven-point tiebreak and thus celebrated when he won the point to lead 7-1.

Basavareddy took full advantage of his opponent’s mistake, winning eight of the next nine points and then clinching the tiebreak 13-11.

He celebrated advancing to the final round of qualifying by delivering a ‘choke’ celebration, seemingly aimed at Ofner.

Basavareddy, 20, used a wildcard to enter the Australian Open last year and took the first set off Novak Djokovic before losing in four.

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